Compact case



April 3, 1945. E. '5. mcHALs 2,372 9 COMPACT CASE Filed Feb. 7, 1944 Arrmwzy L Patented Apr. 3, 1945 2,372,969 COMPACT cuss Edward S. Michals, Chicago, 111., assignor to 8110- Jan, Chicago, 111., a copartnership composed of Edward S. Michals, Betty Bogofi, and Yvette Bogofl Michals, Henry Application February 1, 1944, Serial No. 521,449 3 Claims. (o 220- The invention relates to improvements in containers of a kind commonly known as compacts and is particularly concerned with the novel structural organization of easily releasable means to firmly'latch its hingedly connected component parts in a closed position.

-The receptacle illustrated in the accompanying drawing as exemplary of the present .invention, is commonly used for a powder compact or other cosmetic container, and it consists gener ally of two substantially identical halves hingedly connected along an edge and provided with means diametrically opposed to the hinge for detachably securing the halves in a closed position. Considerable dimculty and inconvenience in use frequently is encountered when an attempt is made to release such detachable secured halves to gain access to the contents of the container primarily because in many instances of known constructions, the securing means is such as to resist initial efforts of separation. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide such a container with a novelly constructed latch of a kind which holds the container closed in an efflcient and satisfactory manner and does not offer undue resistance to the separating or opening operation Known types of containers generally used for the purpose for which the present container is intended often embody separate fastening means which is fashioned separately from the container, parts and secured thereto at the time of manufacture, thus increasing the cost of production. It is, therefore, ano er object of the invention to provide a container of the kind having hingedly connected halves each having a complemental part of a closure fastener integrally embodied therein.

Other known types of containers have securing means to hold their complemental parts in closed position, of a kind including finger pieces or other elements extending beyond the planular surface of the container. Such pieces or elements are a source of constant annoyance and often their presence results in unintended opening of the container and spilling of its contents. Accordingly, it is a further aim of .the present invention to provide a container with novel latching means, integral therewith, which does not have this objectionable characteristic.

Many containers for powder, cosmetics and the like, of the general character of the kind exemplified herein, have identically appearing while being held inverted, thus causing the attents to be spilled. Hence, it is"another object container while it is held in an inverted posi-.

tion exceedingly dimcult.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container of a kind consisting of substantially like component parts having hinge and latching elements integral therewith and which is,

therefore, not expensive to manufacture but is .very practical and efficient in use and satisfactory in operation.

The foregoing and such other objects of the inventionv as will appear hereinafter as the description proceeds, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specification, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawing; wherein,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of thecontainer embodying features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the container.

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view, taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1, showing the container closed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of Fig. 1, showing the container closed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of h the container, showing it open.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the latching means, taken on line 8-6 of Fig. 1. Referring specifically to the disclosure in the accompanying the container consists into an annular recess It in the cover face H i when said faces are in matching abutment while the container is closed. A mirror I! of any suitable material may be secured in the inside surface of the convex cover It. The cover I2. is

hlngediy secured along one portion of its periphcry to a corresponding peripheral portion of the body H, as at it, so as to be movable through an are into open and closed position.

An enlargement I9 is farmed on the cover facethe container closed and yet permits its being opened easily and quickly in such manner as to revent spilling of its contents.

i4 and is positioned diametrically opposite to the hinge connection at l8. This enlargement is shaped on its outside surface to conform to the contour of the bottom I i with which it is associated in a manner to be described presently.

and it has parallel edge faces 20 and an inwardly disposed face 2|, all of -wh ich are substantially at right angles to the plane of the cover faceenlargements 23 constitute flush-continuationsof the end walls of the notch 22 and said enlargements have their inwardly disposed faces formed at substantially right angles 'to the plane of the body face it.

when the cover I! is in the closed position, as

noted hereinabove, with its enlargement l9 fitted snugly into the body notch 22, the body enlargements 18 extend snugly into suitable cut-outs or notches 24 provided-in the cover, one on each side of its enlargement it. Thus it will be obsewed that when the container is closed, the bottom surface of the coverenlargement i9 is positioned for finger engagement from beneath the container body ll, whereas the top surfaces of the body enlargements 23 are located for finger engagement from the top side of the cover I! and that none of these enlargements extend beyond or protrude in any manner from the planar surface of either the cover II or body II.

In use, finger pressure is applied in opposite directions upwardly against the cover enlarge-- mentl! and downwardly on either or both of the two body enlargements 23 so as to urge the cover and'body apart. If desired, a detent pro- Jection 2! may be provided on one face 2! of the cover enlargement I! to engage in a recess 26 in a complemental face of the notch 22, so as to thereby increase the friction tending to resist openingof the cover.

Inasmuch as the container presents a diiferent appearance when viewed from the top than that obtained when it is viewed from the bottom, it

is extremely unlikely that it will ever be held in an inverted osition while being opened. As a result of the present construction, a very efllcient latching means is provided on the container, which means serves adequately to hold Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in the accompanying drawing as exemplary of the present invention, it is to be understoodv that the construction is capable of embodying a variety of modifications in detail and that the overall shape of the container illustrated may vary without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

lclairn:

1. In a container comprising a circular body and a circular cover having matching faces. hinge means connecting the body and cover for rela-' tive movement into open and closed positions. a downwardly extending enlargement on the margin of the face of said cover, said enlargement being diametrically opposed to said hinge means, a marginal notch in said-body arranged to snugly receive said enlargement when the cover is in closed position. a marginal upstanding enlargement on each side of the notch in said body, and complemental marginal notches in the cover one on each side of the cover enlargement to receive said upstanding enlargements when the cover is in closed position, said enlargements being of such size and shape as to conform to the outside surface contour of the part into which it is extended.

r 2. Ina container. a dished body and a dished cover therefor having matching faces. hinge means connecting said body and cover along an edge, a marginal enlargement on the face of said cover, marginal notch in the body to receive said enlargement in frictional engagement therewith, marginal enlargements on theface of said body one on each side of said notch, and marginal notches in said cover each to receive one of said body enlargements in frictional engagement therewith, said enlargements being substantially triangular shaped in section so as to conforrnto the contour of the part into which ceive said enlargement, marginal enlargements on the face of said body one on each'side of said notch, marginal notches in said cover to receive said body enlargements. said enlargemerits being substantially triangular shaped in section so as to conform to the contour of the part into which it is fitted when the container is closed, and at least one of said enlargements and notches having interlatching means to resist opening separation of the cover and body.

EDWARD S. MICHALS. 

